Grappling with Tragedy: Katsumi Sasazaki

Brian Damage

Grappling with Tragedy are a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the Wrestling with Sin series, which deals more with the seedier side of wrestling, like arrests, murders, and suicides. The Grappling with Tragedy series looks more at particular tragic incidents that have, in some instances, altered pro wrestling in a way.

Katsumi Sasazaki

Katsumi ‘Tiger’ Sasazaki was a former junior heavyweight wrestler that turned referee in Japan. Sasazaki worked for several promotions including Zero1, All Japan Women and Marigold. Not only did he serve as an official, but he also worked in the office, set up the ring and drove the bus that transported the wrestlers from show to show. The last promotion Sasazaki worked for was Rossy Ogawa’s upstart joshi promotion called Marigold.

Sasazaki decided to retire from the wrestling business and work at a hotel as a maintenance worker. In October of 2025, Sasazaki went outside the hotel to clean one of the hot springs and went missing. A 50 man search party went looking for Sasazaki and discovered his mutilated body along with his glasses and slippers. Animal fur was also located on and near the body. It is believed that he was killed by an Asian Black Bear.

Marigold founder Rossy Ogawa posted this message…Tragic news has come in that the body of Katsumi Sasazaki, who was attacked by a bear and went missing at a hot spring facility in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, has been found. Sasazaki’s final referee appearance was in the Marigold ring. A junior from All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling, he was reserved but dedicated to his work, and he leaves behind two young daughters. He was supposed to attend the Shinkiba event but was absent, and we parted ways without exchanging any words. Such an end is unthinkable, and all I can say is that it’s deeply regrettable and heartbreaking. I pray for his soul to rest in peace.

He leaves behind a wife and two daughters. Katsumi ‘Tiger’ Sasazaki was 60 years old at the time of his death.

To read more Grappling with Tragedy stories, click here.